DAY 44

The first ice on the pond is kind of exciting. I don't know why, exactly — it just means we're going to freeze for the next three months. But it's exciting nonetheless.

These bubbles locked in the layers were especially cool.

DAY 43

So I'm starting to like these palettes as a way of looking at the amazing diversity of things on the trail. It's interesting to see the colors and textures all together.

This palette shows a small sampling of the evergreens to be seen this time of year. (OK, I guess they're evergreen so they can be seen any time of the year.)





Someone asked me to be more specific,
and I will when possible:

[top left]  Black spruce
[middle left]  Mugho pine
[lower left]  Yew
[top right]  Colorado blue spruce
[middle right]  Boxwood
[middle right]  Juniper
[lower right]  White pine

DAY 42

 I used to be a landscaper.
An important element when
designing an interesting garden
is the hidden view. Paths that
disappear up, or down,
or around a curve.

The trail has such paths in spades.

It probably goes without saying
[but I'm saying it anyway],
these paths are all on people's
property, and the mystery
should be respected.

DAY 41

 Cemeteries are wonderful places. This is Saint Mary's, which runs alongside the trail on West Washington.

People spend so much money on the monuments and the grounds, but hardly hardly anyone visits.

I love the stonework, the typography and the history.

Ultimately, though, the peacefulness is the best part.

DAY 40

The berries.

Despite all the hungry birds, the trail is still filled with berries of every color and description.

DAY 39

Moon, moon, moon.

A night ride to test cold weather gear.
15 degree wind chill.
Everything performed admirably
except the balaclava.

We can put a man
on the moon but we
can't figure out how
to keep our faces warm
without a major hoarfrost
build up?


(I just wanted to say hoarfrost.)




[Addendum:
The moon, shot in the same
location the following day.]

DAY 38

 The Asahikawa sister cities garden contains a spirit bridge. The numerous angles are designed to confuse wandering spirits and prevent their crossing to the temple.

It worked for me. I nearly fell off while photographing.

DAY 37

Fog

[could be the
best poem ever]

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

— Carl Sandburg

DAY 36

A creature made from the
repaired crack lines on the roadways
running across the trail.

The people who drizzle this tar on the roadways are calligraphic artists, whether they know if or not.

DAY 35

 This blog is ostensibly about interesting things to see on the trail. But it also covers what you don't see. This first shot shows all the eyes of the unseen forest creatures.

[This may be a dramatization, but there really were a lot glowing orbs tonight.]

What you don't see here is the rest of Golf Discount's sign. No one does, as the letters are burnt out. I shudder to think which letter is going to go next.

DAY 34

 War of the Whorls

The other day I had occasion to say the word "whorl" out loud. I've never said it before — just read it. It's one of those words that sounds funny when you say it.

Anyway, thinking about it made me see
all sorts of whorls along the trail.


[Bridge footing on western portion of trail]

[Impeccably tilled garden behind
Coleen Hoose school]

[Creek by Russian Sister Cities garden]

[Old stump where the Bloomington leg of the trail splits and heads north into Normal]

DAY 33

I'm not certain these thorns do a lot to ward off predators. I mean, who preys on locust trees anyway?

But these are incredibly impressive weapons in their own right.

Maybe that's why no one messes with locusts?

Why do hawthorns have thorns but crabs don't?
It doesn't seem fair.





[photos from the the western trail]

DAY 32

 I'm not going to lie about it: I love rebar.
I love the name.
I love the primer color.
I love the unprimed rust color.
I love the texture.

Here's my pictorial ode to the magic metal.

[these rebar snaps were taken along the trail on West Washington]

DAY 31

The Ball and Roses.
Sounds like a pretentious pub in Piccadilly.

"Oh balls!" said the Queen.
"If I had them I'd be King!"

DAY 30

Are there secret messages hidden along the trail?












Let's see.

 I don't sit around waiting for the mothership or anything, but it's hard not to see these symbols as potential alien directions.















Three strikes and you're out.












Not so secret message.
[the two color artwork is admirably done]

I think this is the abstract version.
The simplified crown is cool.











Are there only 282 utility poles in BloNo?
And is this number 3?

 When I see these symbols it makes me want to try graffiti really badly.

 So romantic these trail-goers are.

 The city goes to great lengths to protect its citizens from the secret writings.

 So many poles. So many numbers.

Yeah, tomcats: this means you!